College grad looking to join the service

Ok guys, so heres the situation......

A little background: My father is a retired LT. Col in the Air Force. He was a fighter pilot his entire career. Since i was a kid, i knew that i wanted to join some form of the military because i think it is my responsibility, no matter how it is being led, to serve the country that provided me the safety and security to finish my education and be where I am today.

That being said, I am currently persuing my private pilot license with the help of my dad. Because he was a fighter pilot I, naturally, am inclined to do the same thing. I enjoy it very much and would not question serving out a career in the military as a fixed wing fighter....... Heres my struggle.

I just recieved my bachelors degree at ASU and didnt go through ROTC (undortunately), so now my chances of becomming a pilot in any branch are slim to none. Now, because i desire to become a pilot, those chances dont scare me off. What does scare me off is that i have 20/25 vision.... and being that my chances are already low as is, will this hold me back even more?

Now, if i still have a chance at becomming a pilot, i will try no doubt..... but if the chances are just too slim I still want to persue the military...... but i have NO idea of other opportunities for a military officer.

I will also add that i am more of a physical type of worker. I am active and work out regularly. I am trying to avoid a full time paper pushing job.

Any advice would be appreciated. thanks guys!

-kris

 

Well...As an officer in any branch- You WILL push paper more than you fly. Jet types might be a little different- but for the most part you are an officer first and a pilot second.
So you'll have a shop to run with guys working for you or you'll have an admin job.

The other part is (and I'm sure you Dad knows better about the AF than I do. But the movies are wrong - Only a very select few fly jets.

As far as other jobs in the military- Pretty much everything/anything you can get a degree for. What is your degree in??

 

You have endless options. Your best bet is to talk to a recruiter if you already havn't. They are the ones that will know best and know all your available options.

You can always go special forces as an officer. Probably not a lot of paper to push there.

But I've also been considereing joining the service as an officer.

 

Nice to see that service still means something to some people. I spent 9 years in the Navy, loved it. 4 on a boat, 5 at a SEAL Team. Surface officers in the Navy, like the army are heavy on the paperwork and managerial side, as are officers in the teams, but at least they get to do more fun stuff and get out in the field a lot. I have a few good buddies who are officers that agree that your first 4-6 years are great untill you get "staffed" and stuck driving a desk. Just my .02.

 

Hey Kris, there are a number of options available to you and I would talk with officer recruiters for all of the branches.

An option a friend of mine took was going to the Air National Guard since they have more flexibility on getting to fly planes then you can after a period of time you can go request to be on Active Duty (Regular Service). Another did choppers in the Army National Guard then crossed over to regular service.

You just have to shop around the branches and find out what is the best, acceptable, path for you to take.

Best of Luck!

Jerry
Airborne! All the Way!

 

This is exactly what I want to do when I graduate College, except i want to join the Navy.


I would say go talk to a recruiter.

Best of luck to you and Thank you for wanting to serve and Id like to Thank all the Others in this thread that have served.

 

Thanks for the responses guys, I really do appreciate it.

My degree is in global business management. The funny thing is that I got that degree because it can apply to anything, not because i particularly LIKE the material. So wether I use my degree or not, doesnt matter to me so long as i get an officer slot.

I do realize that i will have duties "pushing paper", but Id like to go in doing something that isnt full time/all time desk job ya know?

And i was also comtemplating the guard but from what i hear, the slots will usually go to the wing commanders "son" or a senators son (obviously not the case always, as there cant be THAT many sons ). But from what i have learned about the guard is that getting in with a unit means going to their drills, and REALLY getting to know the guys, because its more of a "who you know" kinda hiring process.

Ill have to find some officer recruiters in my area and go have a few talks to see what my options are....... anyone know how i could locate some officer recruiters in my area?

thanks again gentlemen,

-kris

 

.

You might have the best chance in rotary wing aircraft. The casualty rate is higher with helicopter pilots though.

.

 

http://www.airforce.com/contact-us/recruiter-locator/

Try the above for the AF. Brunes (Mark) might be able to tell you more but if you want to fly, be sure and check out the Coast Guard. True, not fighters but they do have jets along with choppers.

 

Definitely subscribed...

 

I'd love to see your data to back that up. "A" mishaps indicate a loss of greater than 1 Million dollars, total loss of an aircraft, or death.

Looking at the Navy Safety Center 02-09 stats and it seems to indicate that Jet/Attack communities have a significantly higher rate of "A" mishaps than the Rotary guys. Exact numbers of fatalities are not denoted in the report I'm looking at.

(Really...Only the training commands and the "special type" commands have lower "A" mishap rates)

"Jets" might be an over statement- We have the Falcon 20, and those are being phased out in the near future in favor of a twin turbo prop rig. I will talk anyone ear off about what the CG has done for me if they are interested...

 

First off if you want to fly in the air force...the answer is no until you ask. Go take the test and see what the recruiters tell you.

If you want to fly try the Army. We have a bigger airforce than the air force itself. Take their test and see what options you might have. I strongly urge you to look at the high school to flight school program we have in the army. You may have to go to another state to enlist. But try all of them.

If you don't qualify for flying because of the vision (I think it is waiverable in the army) Then I would push you towards computers or information technology. The military is the only one who can give the training that outside contractors are looking for....

Plan, then execute...

 

You do need to take the AFOQT and score well on the pilots section and have your private pilots license to even get considered for pilot training. As for not going through AFROTC that doesn't hurt your chances. In my opinion OTS is the way to go it will suck more but you'll get more of the military experience. Going active duty vs. reserve or guard will also change the story. Active duty they will tell you what you'll be and if or what you'll fly, reserve or guard if you apply for the pilot program and get selected you will know exactly what you will fly. If you don't become a pilot you will more than likely sit behind a desk. Any route or branch you choose is a very honorable decision. Like my always said your not truly a man until you serve your country

 

Im a Marine going through flight school on a Air Force base..........Air Force has all the $$$$$$!

 

I have said this many times before...


From another post:
Air Guard is your best bet. Check other units in your area that you might be willing to commute to on your weekend drill. You will most likely make friends there and have a more local place to stay. My mom did that essentially for 20 years with the ANG.

If you go enlisted try to get something that can crossover in the civilian world. Air traffic control is a great choice.

... enlist first, then while you are enlisted start getting your packet together for the commission and flight training. The Air National Guard likes to hire from within and as long as your scores are good you are almost guaranteed a pilot slot. Now if that happens and you make the wise move to fly something with more than one engine, IE transport, fly tons of missions, essentially active duty with the ANG. When your hours are looking good you apply to a major airline and start making coin.

This is exactly what the son of the former wing commander did and now flies for American Airlines making good money. My father flew with the AF and ANG post Korea to late in the Vietnam era. Ask your father what his opinion is. He must still have contacts within the flying community. Good luck and blue skies.

 

Lucky effer...back in 94 while in electronics school at the stumps I discovered I needed glasses. So at the age of 22 with things all planned out other than corrective vision my goal of being a Marine Aviator was screwed. Do you know what you will be flying with the Corps? Semper Fi!

 

No, not yet. Im flying the T-6 now, which is sick. I have about 5 months left in Oklahoma and Air Force. Statistically, if your flying in the Marine Corps you'll end up in a helo. Its all gravy though.

 

Why do you say you'll wind up in a helo? Plenty of fixed wing to go around. Even some tilt rotor (powered lift) if you're lucky. Although most of the -46 units will be transitioning to the osprey in the future. End of the frog Try for VMR or test pilot skew! http://forums.jetcareers.com/general-topics/102886-refueling-over-iraq.html